WASHINGTON (CNN) - Barack Obama doesn't even have the Democratic nomination, and yet questions are already swirling over whether he could withstand the fierce assault he certainly would face from the Republicans in a general election. Whatever criticism he confronted during the Democratic primaries would likely be child’s play compared to what’s coming up.
That fear was reinforced by the front-page story in The New York Times entitled “For Obama, Taste of What a Long Battle Holds.” Adam Nagourney writes that Republican “opposition research” is gearing up for a battle against Obama. The suggestion is that they will use material from Obama’s past that Hillary Clinton and the other Democratic candidates avoided.
“Some cases are simple let’s-go-to-the-video moments, like Mr. Obama’s statements that he would support giving drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens or would support raising taxes to shore up Social Security, lines of attack that Republicans are already employing,” Nagourney writes. Other material could be more explosive.
“He regularly goes out there and says he’s the person who can beat John McCain,” chief Clinton strategist Mark Penn is quoted as saying. “But the truth is, if he is ever in a general election, a lot of positions he took in 2003 and 2004 will come back to haunt him in a big way and a lot of the vetting that didn’t happen will happen. The independent and Republican support that he has had will evaporate really quickly.”
Clinton's camp is convinced that she could withstand a Republican assault in a general election campaign better than Obama. They have often pointed out that she has a lot more experience in this area – given the battles she’s faced over the years. Her supporters are especially anxious right now that voters in Texas and Ohio appreciate what could be in store for Obama before making up their minds. And that’s the case for the Superdelegates as well.
– Wolf Blitzer
From CNN Politics
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NO his is TOAST.....
Obama has been like Teflon to all of their attacks.
No.
If he wins the Democratic Nominee, he won't choose Clinton as a VP.
And he will loose.
Change Question: What has Obama done while in Senate to bring the Democrats and Republicans together? You don't get a magic wond when you become President.
I do no think so. HE IS JUST AN AMATEUR, who just voted "Present" in almost all of the hearings in Senate. If he wins the nominations, Mc Cain will just eat him alive, that is why I will support HILLARY! At least we have a better fight!
I do not think Hillary is taking notes yet. She seems to be oblivious to her suroundings. She will go down in history as a respected national figure if she concedes before 3/4/08. My guess is that she wants to be a president not a respected persona.
NO.......plain and spimple.........
Good point Wolf,
Obama does'nt have a snow balls chance in hell to beat McCain.
Obama continues to be a threat to national maturity.
Vote Hillary. Vote to win back our dear white house.
Vote to win think!
i hate CNN and you sir
go hillary
No, he cannot.
I'm sorry, was that news or a piece of propaganda from the Hillary camp?
YES! HE/WE CAN!
There is nothing the GOP would want more than for the Dems to nominate Obama, who cannot and will not win the general election. If he's the candidate, the Democratic Party will have succeeded in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Hillary is the only real hope.
Wolf,
As a moderate who will vote for McCain in the General this election term, only the Democrats will be fools enough to nominate a Senator with 2 years of experience. I vote for Obama in New Hampshire simply so that I can vote for McCain in the general election. Hook, line and sinker. I'm glad we will stay in Iraq to get the work done that was already started – I will simply not for a president for a cut and run policy – irrelevant of the fact we went there on the wrong reasons. We inherited the problem, and need to fix it.
GOP should have more concern for John McCain, there is a lot of positions that will come back to haunt him in a big way. Obama has the sharpness and intelligence to withstand any attack and Obama supporters have his back.
After dealing with Hillary and Bill, who use only Republican tactics, Obama can withstand anything. And I hope after Obama wins the nomination he will not let Hillary near him. She is a Republican who pretends to be a Democrat. Just like Bill.
Well, finally a sensible analysis of Senator Obama's chances in a national election. Maybe you guys should have been discussing some of these areas of weakness in his record instead of worshipping the ground that he walks on. Every time Senator Clinton has tried to raise anything about him as a candidate, the press has attacked her. I never thought that the Republicans were going to let him walk into the White House on a red carpet the way that the press has tried to hand the nomination to him. The question is, have you made sure that it is too late for the Democrats to have the real candidate who can run against the Republicans or can Senator Clinton get the nomination in spite of you? Shame on the press for failing to examine the records of the candidates in the Democratic nomination race and falling for the lofty words of someone who has done essentially nothing constructive.
How is it that Obama's past positions on issues will hurt him and Hillary's won't hurt her? She herself was caught in the drivers licenses for illegals contradiction herself. So far, I've been impressed by Obama's direct and well-articulated responses to the attacks by both the Clinton and McCain campaigns.
The Republicans will make sure all the skeletons wil fall out of Obama's closet. Centrist and Conservative Democrats will jump the Obama ship for more secure footing with McCain.
Obama is very ready for the republicans. He is a very strong man. If he can survive attacks from Hillary, he can face any other person out there.
Well gee, who better to quote about Obamas chances than a Clinton campaigner
He's crying about Hillary, he ain't seen nothing yet. By the way, Obama did not vote for the war in Iraq.
Frankly, I doubt he can. He has similar positions with Hillary and hence is doing well. That will not be the case in the generail election. Against John Mccain, he does not stand a chance.
I have to agree that Obama would be chopped liver for Republicans.
I don't understand why Hillary hasn't chewed him up yet.
Republicans can see thru Obamas empty words.
Well put, Mr. Blitzer.
I guess at the end of the day, this is where "Experience" really counts, not so much in the handling of issues but the ability to withstand republican attacks and win.